What is the realistic career path in the uk? epecially for a fresh graduate?
The truth is stagnation at middle levels.
Remember that becoming an sho is not the first step in a ladder, it is the first step in a pyramid.
Exploitation comes in many forms - from "honorary contracts" to "trust" and "staff" -- no matter what they say, the truth is that the trusts are out to get you to work cheaply. Look at the pay banding that shos get. bandings have come down allegedly because SHOs are working less hours. but tell me has the workload come down? have more SHOs been recruited?
The answer "I am afraid we dont have enough funds"
Have you heard of any management position being eliminated in the NHS? certainly not. Yet how come we are hearing stories of SHO posts being cut because there is insufficient funding?
After your basic training, you hit the glass ceiling. Sources claim"the best and the brightest always get through". Sure they do. what of the rest?
And by Hook or crook you get through those years and finally reach the dream a CCST!! and then what? You are near 40, probably with a family, and still nowhere. Does a CCST assure yu a consultant post? think again. And then begins the travel in search for a job.
Sure some may argue that this is the life that they dreamed of. The only thing I would say is to make sure that wake up, do a reality check and make sure this is really the life that you want.
There is a glut in the Job market -yes it is a market,make no mistake. The jobs are there, but the supply of doctors exceeds the demand, in such a situation, the employer always has the upper hand. Dont get taken in by all the talk of fair employment, just see what happened to the asian employees at Gate Gourmet and the deafening silence of the current government in uk which is supposedly a workers party.
The situation is self perpetuating in that those left behind have nowhere else to go. Many of us are in a postion which we thought we would never see -that of bonded labourers, seeing their debts rise every day, worrying everyday as to how they will pay back. And the supply /demand situation is unlikely to improve any time soon.
The UK medical schools have already increased their intake and those graduates will be out in the market soon. No prizes for guessing what will happen. Who will get priority? again no prizes for guessing. Take a look at 'foundation courses' to get an idea of the future. Also take a look at this bbc aticle -The govt and BMA seem worried, and rightly so, that UK graduates are not getting jobs anymore. It also gives us an idea of th scale of the problem.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4741489.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4720905.stm
Remember,they are talking aboutdoctors who already were in the system
Sure I am a pessimist. but at least I am not in denial. Am i discouraging others? If you see things the way they are and get discouraged, dont blame me for it.
And please dont flame me. This took me an hour to type with my remarkably poor typing skills, so consider me dead serious.
wishing everyone who has already jumped into the fire (like me) all the best to find a future of your choice (or at least coming out without major damage).
And a loud shout to everyone thinking of jumping in " Think twice it is rather hot in here"
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